Encounter-a-Day

The PCs discover a magic sword, a wicked blade with jagged teeth lining its 6-foot length. The enchanted blade proves incredibly powerful and useful to whichever PC uses it.

Not long after discovering it, the PCs are ambushed by what would best be described as ninjas. Dressed in simple black wrappings, they are skilled and swift combatants, intent on stealing the sword by any means necessary, though they are desperate and that desperation makes them reckless and sloppy.

After the PCs defeat the ninja, some will likely be left behind or captured. Removing the PCs mask, they find blackened skin covered in boils and maggot-filled pustules. The captured ninja is all too happy to answer any questions the PCs might have, his cracked lips splitting as they curve into a devilish grin.

The ninja are all former owners of the sword. It brought glory and power to each of them, and then abandoned them. Afterwards, they found themselves slowly twisted into their current form. Like the PC, they had each been hunted by the ninja when they possessed the sword, and afterwards it was not difficult to locate the ninja.

In a nutshell, the sword steals its bearer’s soul. Without his soul, the bearer becomes immortal, not quite undead so much as beyond the reach of death. It is a wretched existence, described something like being forever breathless, thirsty and starving. Even if decapitated or burnt to cinders, you will come back to life whole under the following new moon.

The ninja believe that only by capturing the sword can they regain their souls and finally find the rest of the grave. Unfortunately, it is not so easy. The sword will not allow itself to be given away and will do everything it can to remain in the possession of its bearer until such time as it decides to leave. The ninja hope that killing the PC might allow them to possess the sword.

Then, a few days later, the sword disappears…